MTA-NYC Transit

Sports, Social & Health Services

Click on the links below to learn more about these great opportunities. Programs posted on this page are free or have a scholarship option.

Free Afterschool Bicycling Program- This free program for existing after-school groups for kids age 10 and older, teaches students the mechanics of riding a bike, the rules of the road, best practices for riding in a group and on the streets, and–of course–the joy and freedom of biking. The program lasts 2 hours per session (1 slot available per day between 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM) for 5 weeks, one session per week, beginning September 24. The program is based in NYC Parks in all 5 boroughs. Brooklyn locations include Linden Park and McCarren Park. Bikes and helmets provided. This program is only available to established after-school programs. Interested participants can click here to see the program flyer or contact Sharon Pope-Marshall, Director of Community Outreach and Membership Program at Bike NYC at spope@bike.nyc.

Bicycling Field Trips - This free program offers New York City Middle and High School students (grades 6-12) the chance to learn how to ride a bike the first time, or for those who already know, some basic bike handling and safety skills. Cycling offers people a lifetime fitness activity and affordable, fun, green mobility. The program lasts 2 hours (9:30AM – 11:30AM or 12:00PM – 2:00PM) on weekdays between September 24 – November 16. The program is based in NYC Parks in all 5 boroughs. Brooklyn locations include Linden Park and McCarren Park. Bikes and helmets provided. Interested participants can click here to see the program flyer or contact Sharon Pope-Marshall, Director of Community Outreach and Membership Program at Bike NYC at spope@bike.nyc.

Ultimate Frisbee Summer Camp at the Prospect Park Parade Ground - Ultimate Frisbee is a non-contact sport, combining the most exciting parts of basketball, soccer & lacrosse. The game is self-officiated, meaning participants resolve calls on the field without referees, relying instead on genuine sportsmanship & camaraderie. Three beginner-friendly sessions for 10-15 year olds will be held in August at the Parade Ground (near Prospect Park between Parkside Avenue and Caton Avenue.) Sessions will be held Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM. Dates include August 13-17, August 20-24 & August 27-31. There is a cost of $250 but Financial Aid is readily available. All students who want to participate should enroll and expect to receive a scholarship to participate for free. Register by August 1st to reserve a spot. Click here to see program flyer.For more information, visit http://bit.ly/DNYCamp

Free Tennis For Kids!NYJTL’s Community Tennis Program offers free tennis lessons for children and youth who live in NYC and are between the ages of 5 and 18, at any level of tennis skill, from “never held a racquet before” to “tomorrow’s champion.” District 75 (special needs) students have their own adaptive tennis program once a week at many Community Tennis locations. Racquets and balls are available for children to use during program hours. The only thing participants need to bring is their own water bottle and tennis sneakers. Registration is OPEN! Players can come and register at any time during the season. Registration can be done in person ONLY during the program’s hours of operation (M/W/F, 3-6 PM at Andries Hudde Public School (2500 Nostrand Ave, Brooklyn OR T/Th 3-6pm at PS 249 (18 Marlborough Road, Brooklyn) OR T/Th 3-6pm at PS 197 (1599 East 22nd Street)) No online registrations. A reminder that this is not an application, it is a registration. No one will be rejected or put on a waiting list. Attendance on any given day is optional. Click Here For a list of all our Brooklyn locations.Click here to see program flyer with all locations in NYC.For questions, please contact Scott Daly attc@nyjtl.org or call 347-417-8177.

Adventure Time Program – The Youth Council of Reel Works hosts fun events such as film screenings, video game and board game tournaments, open mics, etc. every 2nd and 4th Friday of the month, from 6:30pm-9/9:30pm. Adventure Time programs are open to all students between the ages of 14 and 20 and are held at the Reel Works office at 540 President Street in Brooklyn. Email james@reelworks.org for schedule of future events or to RSVP.Food/refreshments served.

Reel Works Gender Empowerment groups for male and female identified youth between the ages of 14 and 20 are free and open to the community. The Men’s Group takes place every Tuesday from 6:30pm-7:30pm. The Women’s Group takes place every Wednesday from 6:30pm-7:30pm. Groups are held at the Reel Works office at 540 President Street in Brooklyn. Click links to view the Men’s Gender Empowerment Group flyer and to view the Women’s Gender Empowerment Group flyer. Email james@reelworks.org for schedule of future events or to RSVP.Food/refreshments served.

Y-MVP TEEN FITNESS CHALLENGE – GET FIT. MAKE FRIENDS. HAVE FUN. Y-MVP is a 8-week FREE YMCA program that combines fun fitness activities with an interactive app. Classes are led by a Y-MVP fitness coach once a week for 90 minutes. Earn prizes for completing fitness missions. Access to the fitness center during teen hours. Use a really cool app to track your workouts; learn how to improve your fitness, strength and endurance; work out in a program uniquely designed for teens; level up and unlock a Y-MVP teen membership. This program is for all Middle & High schoolers at any fitness level. SIGN UP TODAY! Classes start soon. Classes are Tuesdays for 12-14 year-olds and Thursdays 15-17 year-olds. For more information, contact Tanya Jenkins at TJenkins@ymcanyc.org or 718-789-1497. Click here to see flyer.

H.E.A.T. Girls Glam Beauty & Wellness Event – Registration is officially open for HEAT’s highly anticipated 5th Annual Girls Glam Beauty & Wellness Celebration! The event will take place on Friday, May 5th, 2017 at Roulette located at 509 Atlantic Avenue (Between 3rd Avenue & Nevins Street) Downtown Brooklyn. This is a FREE EVENT open to all young women and girls ages 13-24. We’ll be offering hair and makeup services, self defense, yoga, acupuncture, massage therapy and so much more!!! The goal of the event is to encourage young women to take charge of their sexual and reproductive health and introduce them to wellness options. Registration is required, to register please go to: www.girlsglam2017.eventbrite.com Password: #glam2017.For more information, please contact SUNY Downstate Medical Center’s HEAT Program at (718) 282-1366. Click here to see flyer.

New! Kings Against Violence Initiative (KAVI) S.E.L.F. group – Have you been through a violent injury? You don’t have to cope alone. Join KAVI staff and other teens as we build a positive community for healing and recovery. S.E.L.F. groups offer a positive space for violently-injured teens to come together and learn from one another about coping and growth after a violent injury. Snacks will be provided. We are actively seeking referrals! Any patient between the ages of 12-18 who came through Kings County with a violet injury is eligible. Please call or text Lizzie DeWan (917-803-1177) or Askia Askari (347-697-6521) to refer someone or with any questions. Click here to see program flyer.

Street Hockey Registration: Registration for free youth street hockey clinics is now open! Children and teens aged 5-17 can register for this free program, which offers instruction on how to play street hockey and tips on the importance of exercising and eating a balanced diet.Click Here for more information!

Brooklyn Center for Families in Crisis: OMH licensed Outpatient mental health clinic in Brooklyn, NY, which provides counseling for children and adults by licensed social workers as well as medication management by psychiatrists. Services are provided in English, Spanish, and Russian.

Brooklyn Preventive Services- Offering Free Family Counseling services and support for both parents and children along with collaborative outreach on clients’ behalf to schools, courts and community services. Contact BPS at 718-859-4500 or visit their offices at 858 East 29th Street, Brooklyn.

Community Links Youth Support program – The Community Links program is for young adults 18-25 years who are living with psychiatric diagnoses or struggling with substance abuse in Brooklyn, Queens or Staten Island. Peer specialists work with clients to develop individualized plans for self-empowerment. This program, sponsored by Baltic Street AEH, Inc, offers peer support and hands-on assistance in establishing and maintaining a connection to community resources, collaboration towards goal setting, referral to essential advocacy and clinical services, connection to health-related groups and committees, healthy living classes, access to education resources and training programs, GED classes, college prep, skills training, group workshops on recovery and socialization, vocational counseling and connection to volunteer opportunities. For more information, contact Community Links by calling 929-210-9810 x.9811 or emailing communitylinks@balticstreet.org. Click Here to see program flyer.

CUNY Fatherhood Academy - The CUNY Fatherhood Academy is at Kingsborough College (Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn,) Hostos College (South Bronx) & LaGuardia Community College (Long Island City, Queens.) The Fatherhood Academy is a comprehensive program designed to promote responsible parenting and economic stability for unemployed and underemployed young fathers through education, employment, and personal development. Increasing familial engagement, attaining a High School Equivalency (HSE) diploma, and acquiring gainful employment are all essential goals for the participants enrolled in the CFA. The program’s central focus is to help young fathers prepare for and enroll into college with the understanding that earning a college degree is the most effective path toward providing long-term economic sustainability for themselves and their families. Participants will receive, for FREE: Preparation for the TASC, NY’s high school equivalency exam, career and educational exploration, preparation for college enrollment and job placement, work experience through internships and/or part-time jobs, workshops on important parenthood topics including familial bonding, health, and financial literacy, along with free Metrocards, incentives, food coupons and more. To be eligible, you must be: Male between the ages of 18 and 24 years, eligible to work in the United States (citizen, have a green card, or have a work visa,) not enrolled in college or another training program & have a child or be expecting a baby. Click the following links to see a program information for Kingsborough College, Hostos College and LaGuardia College.

DYCD Programs – Looking for an after-school program in the community? Do you need homework help or assistance finding a job or an internship? Are you looking for a social service program that offers support for families, immigrants, runaway and homeless youth or new fathers? The Department of Youth & Community Development (DYCD) offers all of these programs in more. Visit their website by clicking on the link above and enter either your zip code or Brooklyn Community Board 14 into the search engine to find out about all the great programs and events available to you!

Flatbush YMCA Programs – The Flatbush Y’s After School Program & Family Zumba classes are just a couple of the great programs offered for youth & families. The After School program is open Kindergarten through 7th grade students. Activities Include: homework assistance, multi-cultural studies, recreational reading, character development. Program tuition varies and scholarships & financial assistance are available. For more information, click the links above or email aanderson@ymcanyc.org or FLATBUSHY@YMCANYC.ORG or call 718-469-8100.

Flatbush YMCA Youth Sports Programs – The Flatbush YMCA offers a diversity of youth sports programs. Most programs do have a registration fee but they vary in price and most are very affordable. Check out this link to find out about winter programs including Ballet, African Dance, Karate, Basketball, Soccer, Gymnastics & more!

Free Tennis Lessons for youth, ages 5-18: Sponsored by the New York Junior Tennis & Learning , free community tennis programs will be offered through mid-August. The program is a great opportunity for kids to learn the sport, or for established players to refine their skills. Rackets and qualified instructors are on hand, and registration is open until the program ends. To find out what locations and times the program is offered, click HERE. For information about free tennis lessons in CB14, click HERE. Lessons are held at Andries Hudde School (2500 Nostrand) through August. If you want more information on the program, you can visit its WEBSITE, and if you have any further questions, call 347-417-8100 or email tc@nyjtl.org.

Get Down: GET DOWN is a safe sex public service announcement targeting teens and young adults. With the GET DOWN public service announcement, we hope to tackle the topic of unprotected sex among teens who are currently engaging in sexual activity.

Green Chimneys Children’s Services: Recognized as a worldwide leader in animal-assisted therapy and activities, Green Chimneys operates residential treatment for children and a special education school. Green Chimneys offers programs on their farm upstate and also New York City programs such as the Nature-Based Career Training program, an 18-week course specifically designed for LGBTQ youth.

ICC Guide For NYC Youth Re-entering Their Community After Detention: This 2015 guide is intended to provide resources and information to assist young people with the transition back into the community after being involved with the juvenile criminal justice system, including young people who have spent time in detention. The transition back into the community after time spent in detention can be overwhelming and even scary. Community programs can offer support in areas such as housing, practical assistance, education, legal rights, and job preparation and searches, as well as drug and alcohol treatment. We hope this directory will help identify existing community resources that youth need in order to become successful. Click here to view the 2015 Resource Guide.

LGBT Youth / Family Focus Groups: Calling on Parents, Guardians and Family Members of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) Youth From Brooklyn. Are you concerned about your child’s health and well-being? If so, we want to hear from you! Please join us for our upcoming focus groups. For more information and/or to sign up, call Geneva Musgrave at (718) 675-3372 x52001 or email genevam@camba.org. The deadline is Monday, June 3, 2013. Incentives and food provided for your time.

Millennium Basketball League – This basketball league is free for children and teens, ages 8-16. The divisions are as follows: 8-10 Co-ed, Boys 11-13, Girls 11-13 and Boys 14-16. This is a citywide league, sponsored by the NYC Parks Department. Please contact the Borough Recreation office at (718) 965-8938 or the Brooklyn League Coordinator, Tyrone Fosmire at 718.965.8942 to register or for more information.

New York Sports Connection- This web site is an interactive resource for families and sports organizations in New York City where you can search for information on sports leagues, teams, classes and activities and find information on tryout dates and special events.

NYC Parks Department Sports Programs – New York City’s Parks Department offers lots of great weekend and afterschool programs for students of all ages. Fall & Winter programs are getting underway. Sign up now! Some of the latest offerings for teens ages 13-18 include Girls’ Basketball &Volleyball Tournaments, Girls’ Flag Football League, Boy’s Lacrosse and more. These programs are offered at the Chelsea Recreation Center (430 West 25th Street in Manhattan.) The Chelsea center also offers many other programs including SAT Prep, College prep, Video Production and more. Click here to see the flyer for the latest programs and Click Here to visit the website. For more information, contact Erica Serrano at (212) 255-3705. For a list of Teen Recreation Centers, click here. For a list of Afterschool Programs, Click Here.

NYC Parks Dept. Hockey Clinics – Looking for a fun, FREE activity for your child? NYC Parks offers instructional street hockey clinics at 27 locations in the five boroughs! The program is completely free, open to all children 5-17, and no previous experience is necessary. Children will learn the basics of stickhandling, passing and shooting, participate in tournaments, and even have the chance to meet past and present New York Rangers players! For a complete list of locations and to register, please visit: http://bit.ly/NYCParks-Hockey

PACT (Power, Action, Change for Teens) Program- PACT is offered by the Center for Anti-Violence Education (CAE) in Brooklyn, NY. Year-Round Openings available! CAE seeks to break the silence around violence against women, girls, LGBT people, and people of color by teaching people how to prevent, respond to, and heal from violence. Classes are taught in self-defense, self-confidence, self-care, karate, healthy vs. unhealthy relationships and more! PACT is a FREE program and a unique, dynamic weekly after school program for teen girls and trans youth ages 12-19. The program meets every Thursday from 4:30-6:00. Each class has physical activities (like learning self-defense moves) and discussion (like learning how to deal with harassment, or about healthy relationships). You will develop confidence, make new friends, learn how to defend yourself and others, and how to make a difference in the world. If you want to earn school credit for the program speak to us and we can work with your school to set it up. Snacks are served at the beginning of every class so come early if you can! AND, once you have been in the program for a year you are eligible to become a CAE Peer Educator and get PAID to help our teachers train other teens in self-defense and healthy relationships. The Peer Education program is a great opportunity for learning and to build up your resume and college applications. Click here to see flyer & program application. For more information, please contact Jenny DeBower at 718-788-1775 or jenny@caeny.org.

Sports Program Registration- Programs available for ages 5-14 years old. Programs include Flag Football (5-9 years), Tackle Football (10-14 years,) Cheer, Basketball, Soccer, Step, Dance, Swimmng and more. After-school & Pre-K program staff on hand with info about parent workshops, upcoming events and more. The Open House Registration date was held on Saturday April 11, 2015, 10 AM – 2 PM at the Tilden Campus Field (5800 Tilden Ave @ the corner of Beverley Road.) For more information or to see if spots are still available, please call 718-826-0807 or email krogers@eastflatbushvillage.org.Click here to see flyer.

Swim Strong – Schedule your free swimming consultation today! Swim Strong teaches the proper techniques to prepare the student to be a strong, safe and competent swimmer. We want them to enjoy the sport for a lifetime. Some may want to become competitive swimmers – that’s great! We’d love to help them reach those goals…but students will progress at their own individual pace. Swim Strong encourages swimmers to learn all of the competitive strokes (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly) so they can successfully try out for more competitive programs. We work with those who are in the very beginning level as well as those who are already competing but need stroke enhancement work. Swim Strong operates out of two Brooklyn locations: Bushwick High School (400 Irving Avenue, Brooklyn, Tuesday & Friday afternoons) & Brooklyn Sports Club (1540 Van Siclen Avenue #2, Brooklyn, Thursday evenings.)